Do most afib patients need to stay on blood thinner forever?
Posted , 18 users are following.
I have a very good friend that was diagnosed with Afib 4 months ago. She has had her heart put back in rhythm 3 times so far. She is 63 years old and is currently taking Eliquis and a heart regulator. The next step for her is ablation if her heart goes out of rhythm again. Her cardiologist wants her to stay on the meds for 6 months, then re-evaluate. Is it likely or unlikely that she will need to stay on the blood thinner? I have done some reading online, but cannot find anything in relation to continuing or discontinuing the blood thinner. What is general protocol in terms of someone with Afib continuing with a blood thinner to prevent blood clots throughout life? I deeply care about my friend. How many Afib patients are able to go off the blood thinner?
Thank you in advance for taking time to reply.
0 likes, 41 replies
buddah aaffiibb
Posted
The site I mentioned but forgot to add is "afibbers"
pauline31919 buddah
Posted
betty47298 aaffiibb
Posted
CDM2 betty47298
Posted
It's UCSF.. University of California at San Franciso!! I tried to post the youtube link but it went to moderation because it's an external link. So go to Youbube and enter UCSF and atrial fibrillation in the search bar and you'll get there
britrecko aaffiibb
Posted
i conclude ththat in addition to my cardiologists advice life style and a happy marriage also contributes.My INR remains between 2.0 and 3.0 which is the desired range.
All of these efforts are well worth avoiding a stroke.
progtodd aaffiibb
Posted
I just had a cryoablation done two days ago! I'm at home and feel fine so far. I am on pradaxa for another month or two but will be weened off after that. I'm 54 and was not taking a blood thinner with my afib because i was in such good health. The doctor put me on the blood thinner two weeks ago. It's just to get me through the procedure and the recovery.
buddah progtodd
Posted
You can you can be in excellent health and still require something to keep the viscosity of your blood at a good level. Majority of people with AFIB are in good health as I am, that doesn't stop one from suffering a stroke. I get episode 3-5 times a month. I eat well exercise and socialise as best I can under the circumstances but last year I suffered a PE because of AF. Although I hate taking Blood thinners the probably saved my life.
suzanne48640 progtodd
Posted
Your doc will of course be the one who decides if u need to stay on blood thinners for life. U r relatively young and healthy and that is in your favor so u may be able to get off them. I believe being over 65 is one of the Chad score items that would make u at higher risk.
As much as I wanted to get off of blood thinners, because I'm female and over 65' and have been diagnosed with afib, my risk of stroke is high and I have accepted the fact that I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life.
afiblady buddah
Posted
Just wondering. I had my ablation 4 wks ago and the only thing I have felt is an occ skip and flip flop. No episodes I am aware of. I felt nothing the first 2 wks. I'm running mid 70's- went to 118 . Had to walk3 blocks in 90 heat to the dentist but it came right back down. I've survived 3 grandkids this week, age 10, 7, 4. I figured that was a pretty good test of stress related afib.
Anyone else have episodes before their blanking period was up?
Okapis afiblady
Posted
Yes! GPs sent me into hospital repeatedly...were not aware of the blanking period! Nor was I no one mentioned in the run up or the aftermath of the ablation! St Mary's Paddington London that was!
I suppose it makes sense that the heart needs time to recover after the scarring and will try to do what it did before giving a few bumps and jumps before it settles down
.
simon56380 afiblady
Posted
RHad my ablation April 20th. Saw the cardiologist a few weeks ago(3 month follow up).
Apparently the loop recorder that I have implanted in my chest picked up a three hour episode of Afib that self corrected about two weeks after my ablation. Since then it's been fine.
Hopefully it will stay that way
progtodd afiblady
Posted
I just had my ablation two weeks and two days ago. My heart hadn't skipped a beat since then. The past two mornings my heart had been skipping beats but not going into full afib. The doctor told me that it was normal and they should fade over time.
simon56380 progtodd
Posted
Takes a while for it all to settle down. That why they don't count any Afib in the 3 month 'blanking period'.
Good luck with it all??
betty47298 aaffiibb
Posted
britrecko aaffiibb
Posted
As for these new pill thinners ask your doctor if he is aware of the stage three testing in the aging individuals.in the U.S.A. On some new drug trials , the test population stops at age 70.it will be several years before retroactive results are known about the correct failure rates will be published.
As for myself at now age 88, i will continue to remain on Warfarin.
The diet restrictions do require attention as to what you eat and you do have to remember to take the warfarin on time and as scheduled.
Fortunately, i have a loving wife of the same age as myself who is an excellent cook and manages my medications for me.I value living stroke free rather than the simpler use of these newer drugs .
suzanne48640 britrecko
Posted
You can still live being stroke-free on the newer (but more expensive) and simpler blood thinners that don't require monitoring or dietary restrictions.